Express train hits and kills 4 workers at a railway station in Japan

An express train hit and killed four workers at a railway station in Japan on Thursday, officials said. The incident occurred at Shin-Kanuma Station, north of Tokyo, on the Tobu Nikko Line. The victims were three workers and a supervisor who were doing weed control work on a railway track when the train entered the station. Despite being assigned to spray herbicide, the group was unable to evacuate the site in time and later pronounced dead at the hospital.

Six other individuals were at the scene at the time of the accident - two other workers, three on lookout duty, and an on-site supervisor. The lookout workers were responsible for warning fellow workers of an approaching train and letting them evacuate. They did so by waving a flag to the train, and its driver sounded the horn to signal awareness.

However, the exact roles and communication between the workers on the day of the incident remain unclear. The train operator, Tobu Railway Co., is cooperating with authorities investigating the cause of the accident.

The other victims were relatively uninjured. About 50 passengers on the train were also unharmed. Railway officials expressed their condolences, stating they are investigating the incident and taking necessary preventive measures. Fatal train accidents are rare in Japan, known for its safe and punctual transportation. Tokyo-bound Spacia express train services were suspended for several hours but resumed later in the day.